Hoops Haven

Author: Allen Moll (161 Articles)

Allen Moll is the Site Administrator and head writer for Hoops Haven. He has published thousands of articles on various sites including the Hoopdoctors, Bleacher Report, Upper Deck Blog, and Fox Sports.

We all know that Michael Jordan is at least in the conversation as the Greatest NBA Player of All Time. While some opinions argue Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, or Jerry West should get the nod as the GOAT, Jordan unquestionably is the player that took the league to the great heights that we witness today. Jerry West’s silhouette will be forever known as the NBA logo, shouldn’t MJ be forever immortalized as well?

In two of the other “major” sports, jersey numbers have been retired to remember that sports’ milestone players. Major League Baseball has made sure that no other player wears the number 42, besides the great Jackie Robinson, who helped to break baseball’s color barrier. Likewise, the NHL has retired the number 99, in honor of the “Great One” Wayne Gretzky.

The issue has always been a topic of conversation but has really taken off recently with Lebron James informing all of us he will be changing his jersey number from #23 to his Olympic #6, in honor of “His Airness.” Jordan has not only has been one of the game’s greatest players, but has been the inspiration and role model to many of the game’s current players and fans around the world. He, more than any other player, has been the face of the NBA for more than 25 years.

The Miami Heat apparently agree with James since they, under Pat Riley’s insistence, retired and hung Jordan’s #23 jersey from their rafters back in 2003. Riley argues,” Number 23 needs to hang in the air, kind of like Jordan did in all those epic flights to the rim.” It’s ironic to say the least that Riley is one of MJ’s biggest supporters considering that many of Jordan’s high flying exploits were at the expense of many of Riley’s teams like the Lakers, Knicks, and Heat.

The opposite, and more negative end of the argument, is that while Jordan was a great player on the court, his en-devours into his now legendary high stakes poker games, gambling on golf matches, and infidelities in his marriage are not exactly someone the league should honor. Another logical argument is that Jordan is just one of many NBA superstars of his generation and hasn’t changed the game in any way or had any historical significance like Jackie Robinson and issues with race. Also, if the number would be retired, what about the other 12 players who currently wear the number on NBA rosters, immediately switch to another or wait till they retire?

In my opinion, Jordan’s positives greatly outnumber the negatives. MJ was the total package, Hall of Fame player, media darling, and worldwide ambassador of the sport. I can’t think of any other NBA player that I would want to represent the sport. Tell us what you think?